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Athlete Feature: Annie Thorisdottir

"My name is Annie Mist Thorisdottir, I come from Iceland. I am the fittest woman on earth."

The two-time Games champion says you can expect to see her in competition for a long time."You always find new limits in a competition, and I haven't yet found the one where I completely break down."

Since 2009, Thorisdottir is completely "in CrossFit." She goes to CrossFit Reyjkavik, met her boyfriend through CrossFit, her parents do CrossFit and her brother competes on a team. "CrossFit gave me that something extra that I kind of needed in life."

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The first-ever repeat CrossFit Games Men's champion, Rich Froning Jr., has been a force to be reckoned with since his CrossFit debut. The 25-year-old athlete, from Cookeville, Tenn., found CrossFit in 2009. He competed for the first time in 2010, taking first place in the Central East for both Sectionals and Regionals. He has come a long way since training with homemade equipment in his father's barn and is looking to defend his title yet again in 2013.

Sheep farmer Ruth Anderson Horrell was the only woman representing the island nation of New Zealand at the CrossFit Games in 2012.
"The CrossFit community in New Zealand is really still starting out," she says. "It's probably only taken off over the last two years."
After finishing second at the 2012 Australia Regional, her countrymen performed the traditional Maori "Haka." The Kiwi is no doubt hoping to see the native New Zealand war dance on the floor in 2013.

Marcus Hendren made his debut placing seventh at the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. Hendren, of Central East, has always been active, playing baseball and basketball in high school, as well as football at Cornell. The 23-year-old competitor grew up on a dairy farm in Johnston, Ohio. He continues to split his days between training and working on his family farm, often rising at 4:30 a.m. and not getting to bed until later than 9:30 p.m.

Dan Bailey placed sixth at the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. The 28-year-old trains with two-time Games champion, Rich Froning. Not only do the two train together, but they live together, too. Originally from Uniontown, Ohio, Bailey now trains at CrossFit Faith in Cookeville, Tenn. Although he lives with his competition, Bailey says the dynamic is great.
"I think I can beat Rich Froning," he says with a smile.

Gabe Subry, 31, took third at the 2012 NorCal Regional. Subry, from Stockton, Calif., calls CrossFit 209 Sport home. In this video, he brings true meaning to the term "functional fitness," as he slings hay bales in preparation for competition.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

"I might not be the fastest, I might not be the most 'gymnasty' out there, but I'll tell you what I'm never going to stop — ever stop — believing in what I can do," said an emotional Lindsey Valenzuela.
The 25-year-old Valley girl is a fiery competitor with a collegiate volleyball background and a silver medal at last year's USA weightlifting nationals to her credit. Learn more about her here.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Twenty-three-year-old Canadian Camille Leblanc-Bazinet splits her training time between Southern California and Montreal, where she is a full-time student.
"It's all about fun, it's all about playing — enjoying the sport, enjoying the ability to move well," says the three-time CrossFit Games competitor.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Ben Smith, from Chesapeake, Va., started CrossFit when his dad introduced him to Cindy. From there, Smith trained out of his garage gym with high aspirations to get to the Games.
This year, Smith placed first at the Mid Atlantic Regional and 11th at the Games. 2012 was Smith's fourth visit to the Games. The 22-year-old recently graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and continues to train in hopes of winning the Games.

Becca Voigt says she wants to compete as long as she's able. "I wanna know when it's time to be done, then I don't have this false hope that I still have it."
Voigt trains out of Valley CrossFit has five CrossFit Games appearances on her resume, with her best finish in 3rd place for 2011.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Neal Maddox placed second at this year's NorCal Regional. The 35-year-old trains in San Jose, Calif., and has a "passion" for ice cream and donuts. CrossFit, he says, helps him unleash his competitive drive from his football days. After judging in 2009, he was determined to make the Games, and has done so every year since.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Twenty-four-year-old competitor Spencer Hendel placed 13th at the CrossFit Games this year. His first CrossFit workout was Grace, which he completed in around 10 minutes. After some hesitation, he came back for more and CrossFit became a huge part of his life. His father, Andy, saw the Games in 2008 and encouraged his son to train for competition. Today, Andy coaches and trains with his son.
"Having my dad there for support, and in the crowd and being my coach is what keeps me going," Spencer says.

A CrossFit Games rookie in 2012, Talayna Forunato made an immediate impact winning the South East Regional and finishing 3rd in the world at the Games.
The former Division-1 Gymnast and heptathlete tries to get the most out of every workout. "This one could be the one that's going to help me," she says.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

"It's pretty sweet being Kristan Clever," says the 2010 CrossFit Games Champion. She was back on the podium in 2011 with a second place finish and took fourth in 2012 with a photo-finish race through Fran against Talayna Fortunato in the women's final event.
Clever says when the workout gets really tough it doesn't matter because, "There is no quitting."
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Patrick Burke has been CrossFitting for five years. This 31-year-old former Marine says the Corps taught him how to dig deep and harness his mental strength.
"There's a high level of suck to our sport and you've got to be mentally tough," he says. "I feel like I can get into 'the suck' and hang out for awhile."
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Numi Snær Katrinarson may be a newbie at the CrossFit Games, but he is no stranger to competition. The 32-year-old missed a qualifying spot to the Sydney Olympics by half a second. Katrinarson, an Icelandic native, was part of Iceland's domination at the 2012 Europe Regional. He says he is motivated by the competitors around him.
"It's actually really simple: I just don't like losing and I give it all," he says.

Christy Phillips is one of seven women to compete in four or more CrossFit Games and is "looking to improve" on her previous performances.
"You're not saving yourself for the next event or the next day, because you can't be guaranteed that you'll be in the next event or will make it to the next day," says the athlete from CrossFit MPH.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

"I saw all these girls I had read about and seen videos of and I was so intimidated," says Jenny LaBaw, of the 2011 NorCal Regional. Despite her battle with epilepsy, LaBaw is a strong competitor. She finished the 2011 Games in 6th place.
She withdrew from the Games in 2012 after the Clean Ladder, due to an already existing neck injury.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Chris Spealler is the only athlete to compete in all six CrossFit Games. The 33-year-old has been called a legend among the CrossFit community.
"I think I'm always the underdog ... no one gave this me ... I earned every bit of it," he says.
Spealler announced that 2012 would be his last year competing in the CrossFit Games.
"Because I’m going into it with the intention of it being my last year ... I’m gonna enjoy it, I'm gonna go down guns blazing."

Scott Panchik took fourth place at this year's CrossFit Games. The 25-year-old athlete trains out of CrossFit Distinction in Beachwood, Ohio. Panchik harbors motivation from his twin brothers who had an accident forcing them into a lot of rehab and recovery.
"The adversity that they have had to face has been tough ... at that point in time when I'm working out, it doesn't seem so bad," Panchik says.
When Games time comes, he plans to "grind it out" to reach the podium.

2008 CrossFit Games champion, Jason Khalipa took fifth place at this year's Games. The 27-year-old competitor trains with fellow Games athlete, Neal Maddox.
Along with upping the volume in his training, Khalipa says, "I've spent a lot of time working on what I suck at. And when I say a lot of time, I mean I've spent a lot of time."
"I feel confident that all of that will pay off," he adds.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Thirty-one-year-old Chad Mackay took first place in the Pendleton 2 event at this year's CrossFit Games. The 225-pound athlete missed out on the Games in 2011 due to an injury, and says he's happy to be back.
"To win the CrossFit Games would be amazing," he says.
Outside of CrossFit, Mackay enjoys surfing, practicing yoga and hanging out with friends and family down under in his hometown of Sydney, New South Wales.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Elisabeth Akinwale, who trains at CrossFit Construct in Chicago, says CrossFit makes her a better person and forces her to face weaknesses.
"I have a coach now," she says. "Your body is the physical result of a lot of people's work."
Akinwale finished 13th in 2011, and 7th at the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games.
Akinwale is not only a two-time Games athlete, but also a mother. "Your family makes a lot of sacrifices so you can be able to train. And I think winning makes it feel like that was all worth it."

Kyle Kasperbauer wowed spectators and competitors this year when he finished third at the Games. The 30-year-old trains out of CrossFit Omaha and says he plans to compete for the rest of his life.
Kasperbauer has competed at the CrossFit Games a total for four times — twice as an individual and twice on a team.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Matt Chan took second place on the podium at this year's Games. The 34-year-old athlete is an affiliate owner, as well as a CrossFit Level 1 Seminar Staff member. Chan was energetic as a child and has always been active, swimming and playing water polo since a young age. He likes to push himself to the limit, he says. "I like to feel like I'm chasing the optimal experience ... push the throttle 'til you're redlining it," he says.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

Medical student Julie Foucher says she spends all her time studying or in class when she's not CrossFitting. It seems to be working for the three-time Games competitor, who finished 2nd at the CrossFit Games this year.
"I really want to help people avoid getting sick, and do everything they can to prevent it," she says.
The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games will re-air on ESPN2 starting Dec. 16.

"My name is Annie Mist Thorisdottir, I come from Iceland. I am the fittest woman on earth."
The two-time Games champion says you can expect to see her in competition for a long time."You always find new limits in a competition, and I haven't yet found the one where I completely break down."
Since 2009, Thorisdottir is completely "in CrossFit." She goes to CrossFit Reyjkavik, met her boyfriend through CrossFit, her parents do CrossFit and her brother competes on a team. "CrossFit gave me that something extra that I kind of needed in life."